HENRY OGBONNA

Emergency Care Department:

1. Triage and Assessment

• Prioritizing Patients: Quickly assessing patients to determine the severity of their condition and prioritizing care.

• Vital Signs Monitoring: Measuring and recording vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, Respiration, Oxygen saturation ) to identify critical conditions.

2. Immediate Patient Care

• Stabilization: Providing life-saving interventions such as CPR, wound care, or administering oxygen.

• Medication Administration: Delivering prescribed medications, including pain relief or emergency drugs.

• Assisting in Procedures: Supporting physicians during emergency procedures such as intubations, sutures, or placing intravenous lines.

3. Collaboration with Healthcare Teams

• Interdisciplinary Communication: Coordinating with doctors, paramedics, radiologists, and specialists to ensure comprehensive care.

• Patient Handover: Ensuring smooth transitions when transferring patients to other departments or facilities.

4. Patient Advocacy

• Emotional Support: Offering comfort and reassurance to patients and their families during stressful situations.

• Education: Providing information on treatment plans, follow-up care, and preventive measures.

5. Crisis Management

• Disaster Response: Managing mass casualty events, natural disasters, or large-scale emergencies.

• Calm Under Pressure: Maintaining composure in high-stress, rapidly changing situations.

6. Documentation and Reporting

• Accurate Records: Documenting patient conditions, treatments, and outcomes for continuity of care.

• Incident Reporting: Reporting unusual events or complications for quality assurance and legal compliance.

7. Professional Development

• Continued Education: Staying updated on the latest emergency care techniques, equipment, and protocols.

• Specialized Training: Gained certifications like Basic Life support(BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Acute illness management(AIMS).

INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

1. Patient Monitoring and Assessment

• Continuous Monitoring: Observing vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, etc.) and using advanced monitoring equipment.

• Identifying Changes: Detecting subtle changes in a patient’s condition and intervening promptly to prevent complications.

• Comprehensive Assessments: Conducting detailed physical and neurological assessments.

2. Life-Saving Interventions

• Airway Management: Assisting with or performing intubation and ensuring proper ventilation for patients on mechanical ventilators.

• Cardiac Support: Administering life-saving drugs during cardiac arrest and managing defibrillators or pacemakers.

• Emergency Response: Acting swiftly in critical situations, such as respiratory failure, sepsis, or cardiac arrest.

3. Medication Administration

• Critical Medications: Administering intravenous (IV) medications, including sedatives, vasopressors, and antibiotics.

• Dosage Calculations: Ensuring precise medication dosages, often based on the patient’s weight or condition.

• Monitoring Effects: Observing for side effects or adverse reactions to medications.

4. Advanced Equipment Management

• Ventilators: Managing and troubleshooting mechanical ventilation systems.

• Dialysis Machines: Caring for patients requiring renal replacement therapy.

• Monitoring Devices: Using and maintaining equipment such as ECG monitors, infusion pumps, and arterial lines.

5. Collaboration with the Healthcare Team

• Interdisciplinary Communication: Working closely with physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other specialists.

• Patient Rounds: Participating in daily rounds to discuss patient progress and treatment plans.

• Handover Reports: Providing detailed updates during shift changes.

6. Patient and Family Support

• Emotional Support: Offering comfort and empathy to patients and their families during stressful times.

• Education: Explaining complex medical procedures, equipment, and treatment plans in understandable terms.

• End-of-Life Care: Providing compassionate care for terminal patients and supporting families in making difficult decisions.

7. Infection Control

• Aseptic Techniques: Maintaining a sterile environment during invasive procedures.

• Preventing Infections: Monitoring for and preventing hospital-acquired infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) or bloodstream infections.

8. Documentation and Reporting

• Accurate Records: Documenting all aspects of care, including vital signs, medications, interventions, and changes in condition.

• Incident Reporting: Reporting complications, adverse events, or equipment malfunctions.

9. Specialized Skills and Procedures

• Invasive Procedures: Assisting with central line placements, arterial line insertions, or chest tube placements.

• Hemodynamic Monitoring: Interpreting data from devices like pulmonary artery catheters or cardiac output monitors.

• Sedation Management: Monitoring patients under sedation to ensure safety and comfort.

• SURGICAL CARE UNIT
• Pre-operative care:Taking detailed patient history and performing physical assessments
  Obtaining informed consent from patients
  Preparing patients for surgery by explaining procedures and managing anxieties
  Administering pre-operative medications as ordered
• Post-operative care:Monitoring vital signs closely, including blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration
  Assessing pain levels and administering pain medication
  Managing wound dressings and drainage tubes
  Checking for complications like bleeding, infection, or adverse reactions to anesthesia
  Educating patients on post-operative care instructions, including activity restrictions and dietary guidelines
• Patient advocacy:Communicating patient needs and concerns to the surgical team
  Providing emotional support and reassurance to patients and their families
• Collaboration with the healthcare team:Working closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure smooth patient care
  Updating the medical team on patient status and any changes in condition
• Other responsibilities:Maintaining a sterile environment in the surgical ward
  Managing patient records and documentation
  Performing basic nursing tasks like bathing, hygiene care, and assisting with mobilityProviding discharge planning and instructions to patients